The Canadian Border Service Agency is urging American travellers to leave their guns at home when crossing Canadian borders.
In a new Firearms Awareness Campaign border agents are reminding travellers that all weapons must be declared at the first point of entry or the person will face prosecution.
CBSA officer Jeff Gilmour says many time people don't realize they cannot bring personal weapons into Canada.
"Do your education when you're travelling to Canada. Be prepared and leave your firearms at home and if you do not leave your firearms at home, ensure that you declare it to the customs officer," says Gilmour.
The CBSA doesn't want to see the call for Americans to leave their guns at home to be seen as discouraging visits from the US.
"The CBSA welcomes our US neighbours to Canada, but we're respectfully and politely asking them to leave their guns at home," says Gilmour.
He stresses if a firearm is declared it will not be automatically seized. The person will have the option to export the firearm under CBSA supervision or surrender it.
To import firearms into Canada you must have a valid purpose — like hunting during hunting season — and all the proper paperwork needs to be in place.
Between January 1, 2016- July 31, 2016 the CBSA of the Southwestern Ontario Region seized 115 firearms. In 2015, there were 241 firearms seized in the region. The SOR of the CBSA accounts for 41% of all guns seized across Canada.
